Friday, April 30, 2010

A Precious Journey

A few hours ago, my little brother Zack took his new bride to the temple and they were sealed for all eternity, to be forever husband and wife. The sealer had some great things to say about the covenant they were making, and they were very precious as they stood and greeted all those who had come to share this day with them. It got me thinking about their journey together.

Before I talk about that, I want to share a story that happened two nights ago. Don't worry, I'll get back to Zack and Delta and it will all make sense if you are willing to wait it out.

Two nights ago, around 1 AM, I was sleeping soundly, my snore was like the gentle purr of a kitten. (At least that's how I imagine I sound.) Suddenly there was a tapping on my shoulder which awoke me. Robyn occasionally taps on my shoulder at night when we've forgotten to pray or something. I rolled over to see what she needed and said, "what?" In response to that, she began tapping on my face. Having someone poking you in the forehead is not generally the most enjoyable thing you could experience. Add to that the confusion of being awoken in the middle of the night, you can imagine that I was not my normal happy, cheerful self. I repeated, "What!?!" The tapping continued with greater vigor. Finally, in desperation, I yelled, "WHAT DO YOU WANT?!!!!!?"

At this point Robyn woke up and discovered she was tapping on my forehead. Her confusion over the situation was as great as mine. She looked at her finger to try to figure out what was happening. I asked, "Why were you poking my forehead?"

She struggled to explain a situation that she wasn't entirely clear on herself. Finally she said, "I don't know the words." I think she was trying to explain the dream she was having, but was struggling to put it to words. At any rate, I just wanted to make sure she was okay, and didn't need me, and that I could go back to sleep. So I just asked, "Can I go back to sleep now?" She said yes and rolled over.

Throughout the time we've been married, we've had some fun adventures. Many of them are like the one above, where we wake up the next morning and laugh about it. Sometimes Robyn asks me, "Did that really happen last night?" Usually the answer is yes, despite how weird the event usually was.

Seeing Zack and Delta get married today caused me to reflect on the experiences we've had together. We've only been married a little over a year and a half and yet we've already had so many adventures. It made me excited to think of the adventures they're going to have.

They may have trouble learning how to share a bed. They may find that she talks in her sleep or that he snores. She may discover that he's a big nerd. She may have to be able to be touching him all night one night because they came too near a haunted house. (Which violates the rules of sleeping, but it doesn't matter because I lover her.) Maybe they'll have amusing experiences teaching sunbeams. Hopefully they'll have fun doing things like jumping in leaves or taking trips as grand as Hawaii or as simple as St. George.

Oh, wait, those are all adventures that we have had in the short time we've been married. They will have their own adventures. They will have experiences that will make them laugh. They will have experiences that will make them cry. Some things they will cry about, but will find hilarious a year later. They will learn to love in ways they didn't know existed. They will learn to know each other on deeper levels than they have ever before understood.

I remember when I was single or when we were dating. Marriage was the ultimate goal, and in a sense it almost seemed that marriage was the final destination. When the reality is that marriage is the genesis of a whole new life. A world of grand adventures. A journey together, where you get to be precious married people, who others roll their eyes at because you're so gooey and in love. I hope their journey is as amazing as mine has been thus far. I hope they have all the joys and excitement that they have been looking forward to. I hope they get to laugh at themselves, and the funny things they do. I hope it's everything they've dreamed it would be.

Thank you, For the Trip down memory lane. It is such a great Journey. It is as though it isn't "They lived Happily ever after. The End!!" It is more that when you get married it is "Once Upon a Time....(This Happened and That Happened and because of this or that "They Lived Happily Ever After.")Thanks again.

I love you too my love! Sorry about the whole tapping thing, but you have to admit it makes a great story. Oh, how many great stories we have and I look forward to the many more stories that lay ahead!

I remember having a conversation with you trying to tell you the very things you so eloquently said in this blog, but somehow you didn't believe anything I said. Today is a different story and I am glad to see it. Amazing how life experiences make us better people in the long run. Love you!

We are 38 and a half years farther down the marriage road than you and Robyn and I have to say that it just keeps getting better and better. Glad you're so happy now, cuz just try to imagine the exponential happiness in the future. THAT is the "happily FOREVER after" you hear about. Robyn...quit poking Jeff in the face, though. He is NOT a computer keyboard! Love ya both.